Earring connector

Abstract

A loop-typed pierced earring has a pivotally mounted ear post that spans the gap in the ring and moves in an arc transverse to the plane of the ring from an open position, to permit insertion through the ear lobe, to a locked position with the ear post free end held in a locking detent in the other end of the ring body. Movement of the ear post end into the locking detent forces a slight inward deflection of the resilient end post, after which the end springs into engagement with a locking recess. Attachment of the earring is simple and direct and requires no visual alignment by the wearer.

I claim:  
     
       1. An earring for a pierced ear, said earring comprising: 
       a ring body having spaced opposing ends defining a gap sized to receive an ear lobe;  
       an ear post having a length greater than the gap and having one end pivotally attached to one opposing end of the ring body on a pivot positioned to permit movement of an opposite free end of the post toward and away from the other opposing end of the ring body, said movement confined to an arc transverse to a plane of the ring body; and,  
       a locking detent on the other opposing end of the ring body sized to receive the free end of the post and to hold the free end with a resilient bias,  
       said locking detent comprising an indentation formed in said other opposing end of the ring body, said indentation including an entry slot engageable by the free end of the post in response to movement of said free end on said arc, said slot dimensioned to cause a slight resilient deflection of said free end as said free end passes through said slot, said entry slot including a lead-in surface divergent in a direction of resilient deflection of said free end from a direction of movement on said arc, said lead-in surface positioned to be engaged by said free end as said free end moves on said arc into said entry slot, and a locking recess in open communication with said slot and dimensioned to permit return of said free end from a deflected state to lock in said recess.  
     
     
       2. The earring connector as set forth in claim  1  wherein said indentation includes a transition surface between said slot and said recess that is divergent in a direction of resilient deflection from a reverse direction of movement on said arc. 
     
     
       3. The earring connector as set forth in claim  1  wherein said ear post comprises a malleable metal wire having said one end flattened for pivotal attachment to said one opposing end of the ring body. 
     
     
       4. The earring connector as set forth in claim  3  wherein the pivotal attachment comprises: 
       a notch in said one opposing end of the ring body defined by spaced end members, said notch dimensioned to receive the flattened end of the post;  
       aligned holes in said flattened end and end members; and,  
       a pivot pin received in said aligned holes and secured in the hole in one of said end members.  
     
     
       5. The earring connection as set forth in claim  4  wherein said pin is secured with an interference fit. 
     
     
       6. The earring connector as set forth in claim  1  wherein said ring body is generally annular in shape and said post is curved to conform generally to the generally annular shape of the ring body.